New Speakers
Posted by: Jean-Marc on 01 January 2004
Hi,
I'm currently looking for new speakers to replace my Kef LS3/5A.
System is:
CDS2/52/SC/135s on Fraim
vinyl front end is Thorens TD124/Aro/Dyna DV20x/DIY Stageline+Hicap
Earlier this week, I paid a visit to the only Naim dealer left in my area (in Geneva). This was a first visit and we chat a bit before listening to some speakers.
I have noticed he had a pair of the much-revered and pricey Jean-Marie Reynaud Offrande and asked him if he can demo on his Naim system
(Nait 5/Hicap/112/FlatCap/200).
While very refined speakers, they left me cold, lotsa hifi, not much music I'm afraid!
Then the dealer (who seems to know his business for a change), without much words, replaced the Reynauds by a pair of Harbeth Compact 7ES2.
Wow, I then understood what all this Prat thing was really all about
I did know the Harbeth brand before, but wasn't at all aware of their present offerings. I must say I did like a lot what I've heard. It's a kind of extension of my 3/5A, but with more bass extension (while keeping an excellent medium and high), and above all better dynamics and prat.
I have a small listening room (4mx4m - around 13x13 feet for my British friends), and cannot really go for big floorstanders.
Other speakers I have on my list are the Totem Mani2 and Neat MFS, both lots more pricey than the Harbeths.
Maybe I should also wait for the new small Naim Arriva?
I would be grateful to have your comments on this and your views on the Harbeths.
Which other speakers may also fit the bill?
Thanks very much and Happy New Year to everyone!
Jean-Marc
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by ClaudeP
Bonjour Jean-Marc,
I am the proud owner of Harbeth Compact 7's and, even though the rest of my system is not as good as yours (CD 3.5/ flat/ 102/ NAPSC/ High/ 140) I am enjoying every minute I spend listening to them.
veThe Totem Mani2, while excellent, has the reputation of being a much tougher load to manage, but I assume 135s should be more than capable of dealing with that. I have no experience of the Jean Marie Reynaud Offrande - what do they sound like?
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by alex95
I have a pair of Harbeths and they are indeed excellent, though I think yhey may be a bit big for your room, perhaps give the HL-P3mk2s a go.
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Tuan
Anyone use Wilson Benesch ARC or Discovery with Naim?
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Edouard
Hi Jean-Marc!
Personnally I would try to listen new speakers on the same system as yours CDS2/52/SC/135. JM.Reynaud Offrande are known to be good speakers for high end system, may be more for classical music, but I haven't heard them with naim audio. Kef make excellent speakers and I definitly would listen to the new Kef Reference 203 or even the 205 or 207! I have myself the Reference 2-2, which is the previous serie and they really sound good with naim system.
It's quite exciting to look for new speakers...enjoy it!
Edouard
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Colin Ackerman
Hi Jean
You say you cannot go for floorstanders. I use Ruark floorstanders which have no problems running in small rooms. May not be sold in France but my local dealer Soundcraft is in Ashford just through the tunnel.
Colin
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Edouard
Ijust reread your post Jean-Marc, and realised that your room isn't that big....what don't you try the B&W Nautilus 805 and Dynaudio Contour special 25...
Edouard
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Emil F
You should try the new Mini Utopia Be. The beryllium tweeter must be something very special.
I would like to know, if someone has tried Alto Utopia with naim electronics? I expect interesting results.
Emil
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by Mike in PA, USA
Emil,
My Naim dealer also carries Focal/JM and typically demos the Electra 906s with the 5-series and they sound great. I can only imagine that stepping up in both lines (i.e the Be speakers) would result in even better sound all around.
Another great set of speakers to consider are the Revel M20s, which are actually being discontinued to be replaced by the M22s. I heard these, albeit not driven by Naim gear (actually they were being driven by more mid-fi level electronics) and they sounded great.
As for me, I am running my Nait5 into Dyne Contour 1.1 and the clarity and tonality is very good. Could use a bit more bottom, and am considering either a speaker upgrade or the addition of a sub down the line.
-M
Posted on: 01 January 2004 by anselm
B+W stand mounters 805 nautilus (i think that is what they are called are amazing but at £2500 they are not cheapbut judging your system that not too much of an issue).Epos do a nice sounding speaker within a Naim system but their stand mounters might not suit the quality of your gear.
Anselm
all art is contemporary; it is the way we look at it that changes...
Posted on: 02 January 2004 by Jean-Marc
Claude:
Re: JM Reynaud Offrande
I think this is what would be called the round earth sound: lots of spatial informations,
very detailed and refined, but no rhythm, boring for my tastes.
Colin:
effectively, I have to put Ruark on my list. I don't know if I they are imported in
France, but, as you said, this is not really an issue.
Along with Ruark, I also have to check some Proac.
Anybody can report on the Naim Arriva "prototype" lately seen at one of the UK HiFi show?
JM
Posted on: 02 January 2004 by Greg Beatty
"Floorstander" is a bit of a misnomer, IMHO. Small standmounts still have a stand that sits on the floor...and many of them require a certain distance from the rear wall and corners.
To me, the idea in a small room is to find a speaker that works near wall boundaries. Kans, Intro IIs, and Allaes would all fit the bill.
- GregB
Insert Witty Signature Line Here
Posted on: 02 January 2004 by Geoff P
quote:
Other speakers I have on my list are the Totem Mani2 and Neat MFS, both lots more pricey than the Harbeths.
Maybe I should also wait for the new small Naim Arriva?
Jean Marc
I have a a pair of Totem Mani-2's in a relatively similar size room (3m x 4.8m).
I run them with CDX2/282/SC2/250mk2 and am very happy with their sound. I guess like me you are interested in good bass extension from a standmount size speaker, which is why you mentioned both the Mani's and the Neat's.
I did have to be a bit carefull about speaker position with the mani-2s since extended bass can be a problem in small rooms. It tends to become "boomy" if you are not carefull, which is why I ended up with the speakers quite well out from the room corners.
That said the Totem's do deliver prat IMHO. They certainly have surprising bass for a stand mount. They are a difficult load but the 250 is up to it and gives good control of bass aswell as goinging loud enough, so I guess your 135's would work fine.
The Totem's have a great midrange, sweet and tunefull and well integrated with the bass. The high frequencies are delivered with good extension but can get a bit bright on music with exaggerated high frequency recording.
That said I don't suffer from the problem on the music I like which tends more towards instrumental jazz, light rock and female vocal.
regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 02 January 2004 by Tuan
quote:
Originally posted by johnluke:
I tried the Wilson Benesch Discovery speaker and was impressed only until I heard the JM Lab Micro Utopia BE. The Discovery was very dry by comparison. The Micro BE is a very good match with Naim, and although they are a bit pricey, I felt they were worth the money. I auditioned the Alto, although not with Naim, and it is a great speaker, however you would need a large room. The smallest floorstander of the Utopia BE range, the Diva, is being released this month, although it probably wouldn't work in a small room. Give the Micro's a try, if they fit your budget.
John
John
If possible, please provide a detailed review of the matching between Wilson Benesch Discovery speakers and Naim electronics. Thanks.
